Flexing spiritual muscles

If you wanted to have a Roman experience, Ephesus in the first century wasn’t a bad place to go. Ephesus, located on the western coastline of what’s modern-day Turkey, was the fourth largest city in the empire, with just under a half million people calling it home. Ephesus was a cultured, orderly city.

There was plenty of spiritual muscle in Ephesus as well. It was the home of Artemis’ temple. An earlier version had been one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and even the re-built version (the first had burned centuries before) was spectacular, drawing many tourists and faithful to honor the goddess of fertility.

Besides that, the city housed many magicians. We’d probably call them shamans or witch doctors today. They worked their illusions to create the image of spiritual authority. Into this rich stew of superstition walked Paul the evangelist.

Paul had debated debaters in Athens and taught the teachable in Berea. But something different was needed in Ephesus. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul. (Acts 19:11)

Magicians would have recognized tricks. There were healings and exorcisms. God flexed his power in Ephesus, doing things that no magician could do. There’s a story in Acts 19 about wanna-be-priests trying to cast out an evil spirit using the name of Jesus as a magic incantation. They had no license and were beaten to a pulp for their audacity.

Ephesus knew about spiritual activity – and recognized God’s authentic power. Paul stayed in Ephesus longer than any other city on his missionary journeys. In the shadow of the incredible temple of Artemis, side by side with shamans, God illustrated spiritual muscle.

God revealed unexplainable power in Ephesus – to a group who would have recognized trickery and learned true spiritual authority. The name of Jesus was held in such high honor that the magicians burned their books. Those books were valued at 50,000 drachmas, or 50,000 day’s wages. That’s commitment.

God communicates truth understandably. In Ephesus, the people knew magic. When they saw acts that the shamans could not duplicate, they understood. God sent Paul to Ephesus not to condemn but to set free. This was not formula evangelism or salvation-by-guilt, but love spoken so that the people connected.

Paul preached in Ephesus as he did in all the cities he visited. But in Ephesus, it was the power of God that convinced many. God cared for their individuality, speaking to them in a language they understood, and they responded with honor and belief. They were given new life.

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Acts 19:20